In regular program averages through the first 33 weeks of the 2006-07 season, NBC is running even with last year's average in adult 18-49 rating (3.2 vs. 3.2). NBC and Fox (which is also even with last season at a 4.2) are the only major networks matching their year-ago regular program averages. By that measure, ABC is down 8 percent (from a 3.9 at this point last year to a 3.6 this year) and CBS is down 10 percent (from a 3.9 to a 3.5).

NBC highlights for the week of April 30-May 6:

* "Heroes" was the #1 program on television Monday night in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49, on a night that included such original competition as ABC's "Dancing With Stars" and "The Bachelor," Fox's "24" and CBS' "Two and a Half Men," "King of Queens" and "CSI: Miami."

* "Heroes" scored the highest 18-49 rating for any Monday telecast on any network since the NCAA Basketball Championship on April 2. For the week, "Heroes" ranked #7 in adults 18-49, #5 in adults 18-34 and #4 in men 18-49. "Heroes" was the #2 scripted show of the week among men 18-49 behind only Fox's "House."

* "Heroes" is the #1 new series this season on any network in every key ratings category � adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54, as well as in total viewers.

* Also on Monday, "Deal or No Deal" scored its highest results in 18-49 and total viewers since a special 9 p.m. telecast on March 26. "Deal" ranked #2 in its time period in adults 18-49 and total viewers and #1 among men 18-49 and men 25-54

* On Tuesday, "Law & Order: SVU" won its time period by every key measure, including 18-49 and total viewers. Among adults 18-34, "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined, and in adults 18-49, "SVU" topped its nearest competitors by 71 percent.

* On Wednesday, "Thank God You're Here" topped drama competition from CBS's "Jericho" and comedy competition from ABC's "According to Jim" and "Notes From the Underbelly" in the key demographic of adults 18-49.

* On Friday, "Law & Order" won its time period in adults 18-49, locking up its highest 18-49 rating and overall viewership since February 23.

* On Sunday, the two-hour special "Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation" scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in the time period in 17 weeks (since January 7), ranking #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 among men 25-54.

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of "live plus seven day" data except for the two most recent weeks, which are "live plus same day."

Additional NBC highlights for the week of April 30-May 6:

On Monday, April 30 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Deal or No Deal" (3.6 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49, 12.1 million viewers overall) scored its highest results in adults 18-49 and total viewers since a special 9 p.m. telecast on March 26. "Deal" ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and total viewers and #1 among men 18-49 and 25-54. From its first half-hour to its second "Deal" grew by 40 percent in 18-49 (to a 4.2/12 from a 3.0/9) and by 28 percent in total viewers (to 13.6 million from 10.6 million).

Monday from 9-10:03 p.m. ET, "Heroes" (5.4/13 in 18-49, 11.9 million viewers overall) won its hotly competitive hour in adults 18-49 and other key demographics versus such original competition as Fox's "24," CBS' "Two and a Half Men" and "King of Queens" and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" and "The Bachelor."

"Heroes" was the #1 telecast Monday night on any network in primetime's key demographic of adults 18-49. In fact, "Heroes" scored the highest 18-49 rating for any Monday telecast on any network since the April 2 NCAA Basketball Championship on CBS.

On Tuesday, May 1 at 8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.5/4 in 18-49, 5.4 million viewers overall) was up 15 percent in 18-49 and 10 percent in total viewers versus the prior week. At 9 p.m., "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.2/5 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in from the previous hour by 47 percent in 18-49 and by 37 percent in total viewers.

Tuesday from 10-11 p.m. ET, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (4.1/11 in 18-49, 11.4 million viewers overall) won its time period by every key ratings measure, including adults 18-49 and total viewers. Among adults 18-34, "SVU" beat the ABC-CBS competition combined. In adults 18-49, "SVU" topped its closest competitors by a 71 percent margin (a 4.1 for "SVU" vs. a 2.4 for both ABC's "Boston Legal" and CBS' "CSI: NY" encore special).

NBC steadily built audience throughout Tuesday night, tripling its adult 18-49 rating and growing by 134 percent in overall total viewers from the first to the final half-hour of primetime (to a 4.2/12 in 18-49 and 11.7 million viewers overall for the 10:30-11 p.m. half-hour from a 1.4/4 in 18-49 and 5.0 million viewers from 8-8:30 p.m.).

On Wednesday, May 2 at 8 p.m. ET, "Thank God You're Here" (2.4/8 in 18-49, 6.2 million viewers overall) ranked #2 in adults 18-49, topping CBS' "Jericho" and ABC's comedies "According to Jim" and "Notes From the Underbelly." This was NBC's second-highest 18-49 rating in this hour since February 14, behind only the "Thank God You're Here" time period debut on April 18. At 9 p.m., "Crossing Jordan" averaged a 1.6/4 in 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall. At 10 p.m. ET, "Medium" (2.7/7 in 18-49, 7.7 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 56 percent in 18-49 and by 29 percent in total viewers. "Medium" matched its highest 18-49 rating since March 7.

On Thursday, May 3 from 8-8:36 p.m. ET, "My Name is Earl" (3.2/10 in 18-49, 7.6 million viewers overall) ranked #1 among men 18-34 versus ABC's "Ugly Betty," CBS' "Survivor" and Fox's "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader." From 8:36-9:19 p.m., "The Office" (3.6/10 in 18-49, 7.0 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 13 percent in adults 18-49. From 9:19-9:53 p.m., "Scrubs" averaged a 2.6/7 in 18-49 and 4.9 million viewers overall. .

Thursday from 9:53-11 p.m. ET, "ER" averaged a 3.1/8 in 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers overall opposite a special second hour of "Grey's Anatomy" on ABC. "ER" built on its lead-in by 19 percent in 18-49 rating and by 57 percent in total viewers, while competing drama "Shark" on CBS declined by 45 percent in 18-49 and 34 percent in total viewers versus its lead-in from the previous hour.

On Friday, May 4 from 8-10 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.8/7 in 18-49, 7.6 million viewers overall) reported NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in six weeks (since March 23) and highest overall viewership in seven weeks (since March 16). From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Dateline" increased by 44 percent in 18-49 (to a 2.1/8 from a 1.6/7) and by 23 percent in total viewers (to 8.5 million from 6.6 million).

At 10 p.m. ET, "Law & Order" (2.6/9 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) won its time period in adults 18-49 with its highest rating since February 23. It was also the series' highest total viewership since February 23.

On Saturday, May 5, at 8 p.m., the NBC Sports special "Barbaro: A Nation's Horse" averaged a 0.8/3 in 18-49 and 3.3 million viewers overall. At 9 p.m., an encore telecast of "Law & Order: SVU" (1.2/4 in 18-49, 4.8 million viewers overall) built on its lead-in by 50 percent in 18-49 rating. At 10 p.m., a rebroadcast of "Law & Order" (1.5/5 in 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) increased by 25 percent in 18-49 versus its lead-in from the previous hour.

On Sunday, May 6 from 7-8 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (1.7/6 in 18-49. 6.6 million viewers overall) scored NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in seven weeks (since March 18) and largest overall viewership in the slot in 11 weeks (since February 18). "Dateline" ranked #2 in the time period among women 18-49.

From 8-9 p.m. ET Sunday, "Deal or No Deal" (2.2/6 in 18-49, 9.0 million viewers overall) posted NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in 14 weeks (since January 28). "Deal" built on its lead-in by 29 percent in 18-49 rating and by 37 percent in total viewers.

Sunday from 9-11 p.m. ET, the special "Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation" (3.6/9 in 18-49, 7.9 million viewers overall) delivered NBC's highest 18-49 rating in this time period in 17 weeks (since January 7). The special was up 50 percent in adults 18-49 versus NBC's average in the time period for the last four weeks (3.6 vs. 4.2). It ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 among men 25-54. From its first half-hour to its fourth, "Saturday Night Live in the '90s" increased in 18-49 rating by 19 percent (to a 3.8/10 from a 3.2/8).